Pre-K Teacher Salary & Pay Data
BLS OEWS May 2025 · Broader BLS occupation: SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
BLS publishes no separate wage for pre-K teachers; this is all preschool teachers (SOC 25-2011).
Pre-K teachers employed by public school districts usually earn well above this all-settings figure.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
What the BLS figure covers
These are BLS figures for every worker in SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education.
BLS publishes no separate series or percentiles for pre-k teachers, so this page does not show a percentile table for the role.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Local government schools | $61,300 | — |
| Elementary and secondary schools (all ownerships) | $56,750 | $27.29 |
| Private elementary and secondary schools | $44,290 | — |
| Child care services (NAICS 6244) | $36,850 | $17.72 |
Median wage for SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025. These cover all preschool teachers in each setting, not pre-K teachers alone.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 25-2011 Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $38,140; it is not adjusted for living costs.
BLS has no state series for pre-k teachers; these are the figures for all preschool teachers, except special education, shown as a labelled proxy.
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,310 | $13.61 | 7,910 | −26% |
| Alaska | $46,130 | $22.18 | 520 | +21% |
| Arizona | $36,300 | $17.45 | 9,400 | −5% |
| Arkansas | $34,190 | $16.44 | 3,270 | −10% |
| California | $47,400 | $22.79 | 55,700 | +24% |
| Colorado | $45,500 | $21.87 | 5,210 | +19% |
| Connecticut | $45,740 | $21.99 | 5,230 | +20% |
| Delaware | $36,360 | $17.48 | 2,000 | −5% |
| District of Columbia | $62,150 | $29.88 | 2,350 | +63% |
| Florida | $35,860 | $17.24 | 35,740 | −6% |
| Georgia | $43,920 | $21.12 | 16,850 | +15% |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | $23.45 | 1,410 | +28% |
| Idaho | $32,800 | $15.77 | 1,010 | −14% |
| Illinois | $40,910 | $19.67 | 22,420 | +7% |
| Indiana | $36,650 | $17.62 | 7,110 | −4% |
| Iowa | $33,830 | $16.26 | 5,910 | −11% |
| Kansas | $47,750 | $22.96 | 1,330 | +25% |
| Kentucky | $29,780 | $14.32 | 8,520 | −22% |
| Louisiana | $38,020 | $18.28 | 3,570 | −0% |
| Maine | $43,890 | $21.10 | 1,110 | +15% |
| Maryland | $44,600 | $21.44 | 8,020 | +17% |
| Massachusetts | $45,890 | $22.06 | 18,710 | +20% |
| Michigan | $37,110 | $17.84 | 10,950 | −3% |
| Minnesota | $43,430 | $20.88 | 10,320 | +14% |
| Mississippi | $36,250 | $17.43 | 3,600 | −5% |
| Missouri | $36,090 | $17.35 | 5,580 | −5% |
| Montana | $36,540 | $17.57 | 960 | −4% |
| Nebraska | $47,040 | $22.62 | 1,630 | +23% |
| Nevada | $38,870 | $18.69 | 2,360 | +2% |
| New Hampshire | $39,350 | $18.92 | 2,220 | +3% |
| New Jersey | $48,220 | $23.19 | 16,190 | +26% |
| New Mexico | $44,070 | $21.19 | 2,490 | +16% |
| New York | $46,520 | $22.37 | 23,870 | +22% |
| North Carolina | $35,710 | $17.17 | 18,370 | −6% |
| North Dakota | $39,720 | $19.10 | 540 | +4% |
| Ohio | $35,180 | $16.91 | 19,840 | −8% |
| Oklahoma | $31,790 | $15.29 | 7,010 | −17% |
| Oregon | $45,140 | $21.70 | 6,300 | +18% |
| Pennsylvania | $36,050 | $17.33 | 22,760 | −5% |
| Rhode Island | $36,830 | $17.71 | 1,890 | −3% |
| South Carolina | $34,500 | $16.59 | 4,550 | −10% |
| South Dakota | $44,500 | $21.39 | 1,470 | +17% |
| Tennessee | $34,280 | $16.48 | 5,420 | −10% |
| Texas | $33,860 | $16.28 | 41,200 | −11% |
| Utah | $35,010 | $16.83 | 3,670 | −8% |
| Vermont | $49,730 | $23.91 | 940 | +30% |
| Virginia | $37,140 | $17.86 | 13,570 | −3% |
| Washington | $45,660 | $21.95 | 13,210 | +20% |
| West Virginia | $32,480 | $15.62 | 2,190 | −15% |
| Wisconsin | $36,160 | $17.39 | 11,330 | −5% |
| Wyoming | $29,930 | $14.39 | 1,040 | −22% |